BIOTECHNOLOGY Sea Grant has developed five drugs with relatively small investments. These drugs have the market potential of almost $2 billion/year and address human diseases like cancer, AIDS, inflammation, new biodegradable agricultural fertilizers, natural antifreeze, and industrial surfactants. More Sea Grant Impacts…

Themes Aquaculture Aquatic Invasive Species Biotechnology Coastal Communities & Economies Coastal Natural Hazards Digital Ocean Ecosystems & Habitats Fisheries Marine Aquatic Science Literacy Seafood Science & Technology Urban Coasts National Priority Areas Fisheries Extension Harmful Algal Blooms Oyster Disease Research

The Issue: More than 80 percent of Earth’s living organisms are found only in aquatic ecosystems, and yet we know little about their biochemical characteristics. Another issue with marine biotechnology is the fact that about 40 percent of coastal waters are currently unfit for swimming because of bacteria and pollutants.

Sea Grant: Sea Grant aims to identify and catalyze research applying new marine biotechnologies to improve and protect human and environmental health in coastal America, and to create economic benefits nationwide by fostering the development of novel industrial processes and products. By enlisting the talents of our nations universities and through industry and governmental partnerships at the national, state and local levels, Sea Grant’s efforts in biotechnology have catalyzed both a greater understanding of our coastal resources and the development of novel products and processes with impacts that extend from the aquatic realm to human health.